Here’s the overview: the HDCP protocol is a form of DRM inherent in Blu-Ray players and HDMI ports that allows content providers to revoke your devices’ ability to decrypt protected content if they catch wind that you’re pirating. The problem? HDCP appears to have been cracked, and now more details of the ramifications of the crack are starting to emerge.

First of all, how was it done? HDCP was supposed to be unbreakable, after all, by pushing unique DRM keys into the hardware itself. It appears that the master key was broken by someone actually in the business of making HDCP-compatible devices, who therefore had access to at least fifty individual keys and was able to compare them until the master key emerged.

What are the ramifications for the industry? Well, the DRM still needs to be cracked in hardware, so you’re not going to be able to just download a program to rip a movie Hollywood is streaming to you. Instead, the revelation of the “master key” will allow black-market device makers to create devices that will be able to rip HDCP-protected content without content providers being able to identify and shut off the device.

What that means is that by the time Hollywood first decides to stream a movie that’s still into theaters into consumers’ homes — likely at a hefty premium — devices will already be on the market that will allow pirates to make perfect digital copies of the stream and upload it to Bittorrent within hours of a film’s debut. Hollywood must be feeling very nervous about their plans right about now.

Reader Comments

hodar

This is a worst case scenario for the MPAA.

Consider, if they change the key, they are essentially telling the public to throw away their HDTV, PS3’s and Blu-Ray players and buy a new one. If they change the key, they lose the ability to play every existing DVD and Blu-Ray disk they have sold.

This is essentially a thermo-nuclear detonation in the middle of their industry.

On a personal note, I can’t think of an industry more deserving of such a catestrophy.